Architecture et Construction - Églises

a covered walkway or passageway, typically found in religious buildings or gardens, that allows for a continuous flow of movement around a central space

sacrarium, passage couvert

a small curved area in a church, particularly at the east end of it

abside

the passageway between rows of seats in a church, often leading from the entrance to the altar

allée centrale

an area in a church that is occasionally occupied by a group of singers performing together while religious ceremonies are held

chœur

an elevated area in a church or cathedral where the choir or singers perform during religious services

chœur surélevé, tribune du chœur

a semicircular or dome-shaped recess or niche, often found in the apse of a church, used for decorative or architectural purposes

conque, niche en forme de coquille

the area in a church where the nave, transepts, and choir intersect, often marked by a dome or tower

croisée, croisement

a decorative partition or gallery separating the choir and sanctuary from the nave in a church

grille de choeur, écran de choeur

an enclosed area consisting of pillars located at the western entrance of an old church

narthex

an ornamental carving or finial found at the top of a seat or a choir stall, typically depicting a decorative or symbolic design such as a flower, foliage, or a human or animal figure

chignon, calice

a tall and pointed tower on a church, often topped by a spire

clocher (d'une église)

either of the two hands at the sides of a cross-shaped church, which sticks out of the long central part of the church at a 90-degree angle

transept

the apse or a semicircular or polygonal space at the east end of a church, often containing the altar and serving as a focal point of worship

tribune, absidiole

a narrow, arcaded gallery or passageway found above the arches of the nave in Gothic cathedrals, typically below the clerestory windows

triforium, galerie triforium

the long and central part of a church where people sit to worship God

nef

a small enclosed platform with stairs in a church, on which a priest stands to preach to people

chaire

the area of a church or cathedral that surrounds the altar and is typically reserved for the clergy and choir during religious services

chœur, chancel

a small chapel located within the transept of a church or cathedral, often dedicated to a specific saint or serving as a place of private prayer or devotion

chapelle du transept, chapelle transversale

a series of arches or arcades that separate the central aisle of a church from the side aisles

arcade de la nef, arcades de la nef

a small place of worship or prayer that is usually separate from a main church or cathedral

chapelle

a room that is beneath the floor of a church and was mostly used for burying the dead in the past

crypte

a small chapel within a church, dedicated to prayers and masses for the souls of specific individuals, typically the chapel's founder or benefactor

chapelle de chancelier, chapelle funéraire

a slender, spire-like structure typically found atop the roof of a church or cathedral, serving as a decorative or functional element

flèche, pignon

a shallow basin or stone niche with a drain, usually found in the sacristy or near the altar in a church, used for the ritual washing of sacred vessels and purifying water used in religious ceremonies

piscine

a medieval wooden church found in Norway, constructed using post-and-beam techniques and featuring intricate woodcarvings

église à poteaux, église en bois à poteaux

a covered walking area with several stone arches, which surrounds a square garden in a church, monastery, etc.

cloître

a pointed and long structure in the shape of a cone, which is built on top of a church or other tall buildings

flèche

an arched structure made of stone used for supporting the outer wall of a building, especially a church

arc-boutant

stone figures that resemble a hideous creature and that are attached to the top of some old buildings, particularly old churches, for carrying rain water off the roof

gargouille

the central courtyard or garden enclosed by the surrounding covered walkways of a cloister, providing a peaceful and communal space for prayer and contemplation

cloître intérieur, jardin du cloître

a bell tower or structure that houses bells, often found in churches or other religious buildings

clocheton, campanile

an ornate partition made of wood or stone, partly separating the main area of a church from other parts such as the choir or altar

jubé

colorful pieces of glass put together in decorative patterns to form pictorial designs, typically found in the windows of churches

vitrail

a roof structure on a tower or steeple that has four sloping sides and a pyramid-like shape

flèche, sommet de tourelle

a triangular or conical stone finial or ornament placed at the top or apex of a gable or spire on a church

flèche, ornement de faîtage